Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Fees by Airline

Booking a flight using your airline miles can be a great way to save money. Plus, it can allow you to travel in ways you wouldn’t normally be able to afford. Before booking your flight, you’ll want to be aware of any change or cancellation fees the airline may charge. These are different from the fees you can expect when booking a flight with cash and vary by airline. Let’s have a look at all the change and cancellation fees airlines will charge. 

Overview of award ticket change and cancellation fees by airline

The range of fees you’ll pay to cancel or change your ticket will vary by airline. Some don’t charge any fees for canceling or making changes, while others can be pretty punitive. Here are the ranges you can expect to pay for each airline when canceling or changing your award ticket. 

• ANA Mileage Club: 0 to 3,000 miles
• Aegean Miles+Bonus: 23 EUR (average)
• Aeromexico Rewards: 1,930 to 2,900 MXN
• Air Canada Aeroplan: $0 to 150 CAD
• Air France-KLM Flying Blue: 70 EUR
• Air New Zealand Airpoints: $50 to $100 NZ
• Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan: None
• Allegiant myAllegiant: None
• American Airlines AAdvantage: None
• Asiana Airlines Asiana Club: $0 to $30
• Avianca LifeMiles: $30 to $200
• British Airways Executive Club: $55
• Cathay Pacific Asia Miles: $50 to $120
• Copa Airlines ConnectMiles: $25 and $150
• Delta SkyMiles: Some free, some not
• EVA Air Infinity Mileageland: $50 
• Emirates Skywards: $25 to $75
• Etihad Guest: $25 to 75% of the fare
• Finnair Plus: 50 EUR
• Frontier Miles: $0 to $75
• Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles: None
• Iberia Plus: 25 EUR
• Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank: 3,100 JPY
• JetBlue TrueBlue: None
• Korean Air SkyPass: $0 to 10,000 miles
• LATAM Pass: $15 to $200
• Lufthansa Miles & More: 50 EUR
• Qantas Frequent Flyer: 5,000 to 6,000 points
• Qatar Airways Privilege Club: $25 to $100
• SAS Eurobonus: $50 to $75
• Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer: $0 to $75
• South African Airways Voyager: $15
• Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards: None
• Spirit Airlines Free Spirit: None
• TAP Miles&Go : 50 to 150 EUR
• Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles: $70
• United MileagePlus: None
• Virgin Atlantic Flying Club: $50

ANA Mileage Club

Those flying ANA can change the date of their flights for free, while a refund will cost 3,000 miles. 

Aegean Miles+Bonus Average

Aegeans allows changes in date and time, along with cancellations, though you’ll need to pay a 23 EUR fee. 

Aeromexico Rewards

Aeromexico Rewards members can make one change free of charge to award tickets. After that, it costs 1,930 MXN per change. Cancellations are 2,900 MXN. Note that these figures are for international flights. 

Air Canada Aeroplan

The fees you’ll be charged for changing or canceling an Aeroplan award ticket will depend on which fare class you purchase. For the lowest-tier rewards, you’ll be charged 150 CAD to cancel or 100 CAD to change.

Air France-KLM Flying Blue

You’ll pay 70 EUR when changing or canceling your Flying Blue award ticket. 

Air New Zealand Airpoints

You can change or cancel most Air New Zealand flights online for free, though you’ll need to pay a fee if you call in to do so. 

Fees for changes when calling:

• New Zealand domestic flights: 30 NZD
• Air New Zealand international short haul: 35 NZD
• Air New Zealand international long haul: 60 NZD
• Star Alliance round-the-world booking: No fee

You’ll also need to pay a 100 NZD cancellation fee for Star Alliance partners. 

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

You can cancel or change your Alaska Mileage Plan award ticket for free before your flight departs.

Allegiant Allways Rewards

If you cancel an Allegiant award ticket, you’ll get the points back in the form of a voucher. 

American Airlines AAdvantage

American Airlines allows you to change or cancel flights for free as long as you cancel before your flight departs.

Asiana Airlines Asiana Club

Canceling your Asiana award flight more than 91 days in advance is free, but you’ll incur a $30 fee closer in. Changes cost $30. 

Avianca LifeMiles

You’ll pay between $50 and $200 for Avianca Lifemiles award cancellations or $150 for changes. Those with an eligible Lifemiles+ subscription can cancel or change for free. 

British Airways Executive Club

British Airways charges $55 for all cancellations and changes on award tickets.

Cathay Pacific Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific award flights can be changed online for $50 or 7,500 miles. You can also cancel for $120 or 17,000 Asia miles. 

Copa Airlines

The price you’ll pay to change or cancel an award ticket on Copa Airlines will depend on a few different factors, including how far in advance you’re changing and your elite status.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay as a non-elite member:

• Changes:
  • More than 7 days: $75
  • Less than 7 days: $100
• Cancellations:
  • More than 7 days: $100
  • Less than 7 days: $150

Delta SkyMiles

It’s free to change or cancel most tickets, though basic economy tickets still have a cancellation fee. The same is true for flights originating outside the United States or Canada. Note that the fees you’ll pay will depend on your ticket and where you’re flying. 

EVA Air Infinity Mileagelands

EVA Air charges $50 for flight changes or cancellations, no matter when you’re making them.

Emirates Skywards

Emirates Skywards award tickets can be changed or canceled. The cost to change is $25, while the cost to cancel is $75.

Etihad Guest

Etihad’s policy for refunding or changing award tickets can be very expensive. 

• Cancel 21+ days before departure: 75% refund
• Cancel between eight and 21 days before departure: 50% refund
• Cancel between one and seven days before departure: 25% refund
• Cancel within 24 hours: No refund

Finnair Plus

It costs 50 EUR to amend or cancel your Finnair booking, though changes are only available on flights operated by Finnair. 

Frontier Miles

If your Frontier flight is departing in fewer than eight days, there is a $75 fee to cancel. Changes are free. 

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

Hawaiian Airlines allows you to change or cancel your award tickets for free.

Iberia Plus

It costs 25 EUR to change or cancel your Iberia Plus award flight up to 24 hours before departure. Changes or cancellations to full-fare economy tickets are free.

Japan Airlines JAL Mileage Bank

JAL doesn’t allow you to make changes on award tickets, but you can cancel and get your miles back for a 3,100 JPY fee.

JetBlue TrueBlue

JetBlue doesn’t charge a fee to change or cancel your ticket online. If done by phone, it will cost you $25. 

Korean Air SkyPass

Korean Air will charge you 30,000 KRW to change your award tickets. It’s free to cancel more than 91 days before departure. Canceling between 90 days and your departure date will cost you 3,000 miles. It costs 10,000 miles to cancel after your tickets expire. 

LATAM Pass

LATAM fees for cancellations or changes vary depending on where you’re going: Between $16 and $150 for ticket changes and $25 to $250 for cancellations. You can either choose to pay in cash or use your LATAM Pass miles for the cost.

Lufthansa Miles & More

Lufthansa Miles & More tickets can be changed or refunded for 50 EUR per ticket. 

Qantas Frequent Flyer

Qantas award flights have both change and cancellation fees, but you’ll pay using your points. For changes, the fee is 5,000 points. For cancellations, you’ll pay 6,000 points. 

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

You can change or cancel your Qatar Airways award ticket up to three hours before departure. More than 24 hours in advance will cost you $25; fewer than 24 hours in advance costs $100. 

SAS Eurobonus

The fee you’ll pay for rebooking or canceling your flights on SAS Eurobonus depends on where you’re going. Award flights from the United States or to Asia cost $75 to amend, while domestic flights and European flights cost $50 to change or cancel.

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

Singapore Airlines will charge you for both changes and cancellations; the amount will depend on whether you have a Saver or an Advantage fare. Advantage fares are more expensive and have fewer fees, while Saver fares cost fewer miles but are more expensive to change or cancel.

South African Airways Voyager

South African Airways charges just $15 to cancel your ticket, though its website doesn’t specify if changes are allowed or how much they cost.  

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

Southwest allows you to make changes and cancellations for free as long as you do so more than 10 minutes before your flight. 

Spirit Airlines Free Spirit

Spirit doesn’t charge a fee to change or cancel tickets. 

TAP Miles&Go

TAP Portugal charges a range of fees depending on where you’re flying and your level of elite status. Generally, the fee is between 50 to 150 EUR.

Here’s how much you can expect to pay as a member without elite status:

• Domestic flights: 50 EUR
• Intercontinental flights: 75 EUR
• Flights with partners: 150 EUR

Turkish Airlines Miles&Smiles

Turkish Airlines charges $70 for award ticket changes or cancellations. 

United MileagePlus

United Airlines allows you to change or cancel award tickets for free if your flight originates within the United States. 

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

Virgin Atlantic charges $50 for award ticket changes or cancellations. 

How to avoid change or cancellation fees

Avoiding change or cancellation fees can be difficult, especially if you’re not sure of your plans. If you know that you’ll definitely be taking your flight, feel free to book with an airline even if it charges fees.

However, if your plans aren’t totally solid, it can be a better idea to book your flight with a program that waives change or cancellation fees, such as those from the big U.S. airlines — Delta, American, and United.